A2 Reading Practice: Sloths, Food, and Sun
---text
Today, sloths are animals that live in the trees in Central and South America. They are famous for being very, very slow. They spend most of their time eating, resting, and sleeping. They only come down from the tree about once a week!
Why are sloths so slow? The reason is their food. Sloths eat almost only leaves. Leaves are difficult to digest and do not give much energy. Because their food is low in energy, the sloth must save energy. They save energy by moving slowly and having less muscle than other animals.
---questions-4
Q: Where do sloths live?
A: In trees in Central and South America [correct]
A: On the ground
A: In the water
Q: Why are sloths so slow?
A: They sleep a lot
A: Their food (leaves) is low in energy [correct]
A: They have lots of muscle
Q: What do sloths eat?
A: Meat and fish
A: Almost only leaves [correct]
A: Fruit and nuts
Q: How do sloths save energy?
A: By moving slowly [correct]
A: By eating fast
A: By coming down from the tree every day
Q: How often do sloths come down from the tree?
A: About once a week [correct]
A: Every day
A: Once a month
---vocab-3
Slow: Not fast.
Energy: The power to move and be active.
Leaves: The green parts of a tree or plant.
Muscle: The parts of your body that move you.
Diet: The food an animal usually eats.
---cloze-3
Today, sloths eat almost only *leaves*. This food does not contain much *energy*. To save energy, sloths do not move very much and are very *slow*. Sloths have 30% less *muscle* than other animals their size. Three-toed sloths have the *slowest* metabolism of any mammal.
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Your brain is very important. It is small (only 2% of your body), but it uses a lot of energy. It uses 20% of all your body's power! This energy comes from the food you eat. Good food helps your brain. Protein, from meat and eggs, helps you feel calm or alert. Good fats, from fish and nuts, help build your brain and keep it healthy.
Some food gives energy fast. Sugar and white bread give you energy now, but 30 minutes later, you feel tired. Other foods, like oats and grains, give you "slow" energy. This slow energy is better for your brain and helps you pay attention in class.
---questions-4
Q: How much of your body's energy does the brain use?
A: 2%
A: 20% [correct]
A: 30%
Q: What food helps you feel calm or alert?
A: Sugar
A: Good fats
A: Protein [correct]
Q: What food gives you "fast" energy?
A: Oats and grains
A: Sugar and white bread [correct]
A: Fish and nuts
Q: What food is better for "slow" energy?
A: Oats and grains [correct]
A: Candy
A: White bread
Q: What food helps build your brain and keep it healthy?
A: Good fats, from fish and nuts [correct]
A: Sugar and white bread
A: Oats and grains
---vocab-3
Brain: The part in your head that thinks.
Energy: Power to run, play, and think.
Protein: Food like meat, eggs, and beans.
Sugar: Sweet food, like candy or white bread.
Fats (good fats): Food like fish, nuts, and avocados.
---cloze-3
Your *brain* is small but uses a lot of power. Good *fats* from fish help keep your brain healthy. *Protein* from meat and eggs helps you feel alert. *Sugar* gives you fast energy, but you get tired later. Oats give you slow *energy* for a long time.
---text
The sun gives the world a lot of energy. We can use this energy to make electricity. We use special things called solar panels. Solar panels are made of solar cells. Light from the sun hits the solar panel. The light moves tiny things called electrons. The electrons move and make electricity. We can use this electricity to power a light bulb or charge a phone.
There are some challenges. Solar energy is not the same everywhere. Some places are sunny, and some places are cloudy. We also need to use batteries to store the energy for use at night. Solar power is getting better. It is also getting cheaper.
---questions-4
Q: What do solar panels use to make electricity?
A: Energy from the sun [correct]
A: Energy from batteries
A: Energy from wind
Q: What moves to make electricity?
A: Solar cells
A: Light bulbs
A: Tiny things called electrons [correct]
Q: What is one challenge for solar energy?
A: It is getting cheaper
A: We need batteries for the night [correct]
A: It works for a long time
Q: Is solar power getting cheaper or more expensive?
A: It is getting cheaper [correct]
A: It is getting more expensive
A: It is staying the same price
Q: What do solar panels make?
A: Electrons
A: Electricity [correct]
A: Batteries
---vocab-3
Store: To keep something to use later.
Cheap: Costs very little money.
Solar Panel: A flat object that makes electricity from the sun.
Electricity: Power for lights, phones, and computers.
Light: What helps us see; it comes from the sun.
---cloze-3
Please open the curtain there is not enough *light* for reading. My phone battery can *store* 5000mah of electricity. Solar panels can be used to produce *electricity*. A *solar panel* uses the sun to make power. Solar power is also getting *cheaper*.
